Monthly Archives: October 2025

The Headless Horseman and the House of Dun

 We have all heard of the Headless Horseman. Surely, you know something of the tale written by Washington Irving in 1820: “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” However, did you realize that the Headless Horseman had been a much used motif … Continue reading

Posted in British history, castles, Georgian Era, legends, legends and myths, Scotland, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Just for Halloween: Zombies: Monsters of the People!

Have we not all at one time or another felt like a zombie? We work ourselves into a mindless blob of humanity. My last blog was on vampires, so I thought I would give equal time to zombies. It is … Continue reading

Posted in film, legends and myths | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Just for Halloween: Zombies: Monsters of the People!

Just for Halloween: Vampires: Immortal Prisoners

Some years back, I wrote a vampire version of Pride and Prejudice. Ulysses Press has again bought the rights to this book, and it is returning to shelves in 2026. As my book was set in Regency England (1800-1820), even … Continue reading

Posted in film, legends and myths, Victorian era | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

By-Elections? What Does That Mean for Parliament? + the Upcoming Release of “Lyon in Disguise” from Dragonblade Publishing (Arriving 17 December 2025)

According to the UK Parliament website, in the United Kingdom, a “parliamentary by-election happens when a seat in the House of Commons becomes vacant between general elections. This can happen when an MP [Member of Parliament]: “Until an election, an … Continue reading

Posted in book release, British history, Dragonblade Publishers, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on By-Elections? What Does That Mean for Parliament? + the Upcoming Release of “Lyon in Disguise” from Dragonblade Publishing (Arriving 17 December 2025)

Cavaliers in England’s First Civil War + the Upcoming Release of “Lyon in Disguise” from Dragonblade Publishing (Arriving 17 December 2025)

Though this is not the time period in which I write my historicals, I find myself upon occasion (more often than I should, of late) making references to the “cavaliers,” and I am not talking NBA Basketball teams, nor am … Continue reading

Posted in Act of Parliament, book release, British history, Dragonblade Publishers, eBooks, estates, Great Britain, history, laws of the land, legacy, mystery, publishing, real life tales, suspense | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Cavaliers in England’s First Civil War + the Upcoming Release of “Lyon in Disguise” from Dragonblade Publishing (Arriving 17 December 2025)

“A Rose by Any Other Name” Might Not Be Rosy at All + the Upcoming Release of “Lyon in Disguise” from Dragonblade Publishing (Arriving 17 December 2025)

The quote “a rose by any other name would smell as sweet” is from William Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet. It means that the name of something is not as important as the thing itself. The quote suggests that a rose would still … Continue reading

Posted in aristocracy, book release, books, British history, Dragonblade Publishers, eBooks, etymology, Georgian England, Georgian Era, hero, heroines, historical fiction, Ireland, legacy, mystery, peerage, publishing, Regency era, Regency romance, research, romance, suspense, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on “A Rose by Any Other Name” Might Not Be Rosy at All + the Upcoming Release of “Lyon in Disguise” from Dragonblade Publishing (Arriving 17 December 2025)

What the Heck is “Deodand”?

“In 1336, a drunken sailor climbed the mast of his ship at anchor in the Thames by means of a rope, presumably part of the rigging. When he tried to descend the same way he fell and died. A coroner’s … Continue reading

Posted in Age of Chaucer, Anglo-Normans, British history, Great Britain, Living in the Regency, real life tales, Regency era, Uncategorized, Victorian era | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Scheele’s Green and Arsenic and the Green Death in the Georgian Era

For those of you who are interested in using or avoiding the use of this deadly yet popular shade of green, here is an interesting article from an art magazine. The Paris Review tells us a bit to the history … Continue reading

Posted in British history, fashion, Georgian England, Georgian Era, history, Living in the Regency, Regency era | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Dower Vs. Dowry, Do You Know the Difference?

Lets do a quick breakdown before we discuss specifics. The key difference between “dower” and “dowry” lies in who provides the wealth and when it is given. Dowry is the property a bride brings to her marriage, typically from her family to … Continue reading

Posted in British history, customs and tradiitons, family, finance, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Great Britain, history, Inheritance, laws of the land, Living in the Regency, marriage, real life tales, Regency era, research, terminology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Dower Vs. Dowry, Do You Know the Difference?

Excommunication and the Order of the Ecclesiastical Courts in Regency England

First, let us define “excommunication” in general terms. Excommunication is an institutional act of religious censure used to deprive, suspend, or limit membership in a religious community or to restrict certain rights within it, in particular those of being in communion with other members of … Continue reading

Posted in British history, Church of England, Georgian Era, Great Britain, history, laws of the land, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, real life tales, Regency era, religion | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Excommunication and the Order of the Ecclesiastical Courts in Regency England